HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Like many collectors, I started collecting vintage Matchbox cars to recreate my childhood collection. During the 1990s, with the Internet and online auction sites, it was now possible to purchase rapidly the most
common models and, it wasn’t rare to see that the model came with its original box. Like many kids, I threw the box or blister pack as soon as I received a model but it is clear now that the package was just as
gorgeous as the toy itself. As I purchased a small lot of late 50s models, all with their original box, it became obvious for me that any model in my collection would be boxed. So began this journey in the world of
boxes.
THE BOXES; WHY DO WE LOVE THEM?
The first thing that strikes collectors is the beauty of the artwork. Whether it’s a regular wheel, king size, major or accessory pack, the fine details and the numerous variations, even for a single type for any given
model, creates this appetite for many of us to get them in our collection. And, to add to the charm of these little piece of carton, the boxes add value to any piece in a collection and some boxes actually worth
more then the toy itself!
THE FIRST WEBPAGE: THE “MEGA SPREADSHEET”
As I built my collection, I soon realized that many models came in different boxes, sometimes in different styles, sometimes in same style but with a different illustration. Trying to build a first list of variation, I
gathered scans of my collection as well as pictures from the internet and organized them in a spreadsheet. The result was extermely heavy, as the page would take for ever to load! We were in 1999! Furthermore,
the boxes illustrated were not in scale and the page did not look very nice. The need to build a complete website was more than ever a must.
2002: THE FIRST VERSION OF VINTAGE LESNEY ONLINE
As I was looking for more acurate references to document every variation properly, I was introduced to Christian Falkensteiner, who would play a crucial role in the creation of the site. With his detailed listing of
each variation for each model. based on the work of Philip Bowdidge, I was able to come up with a very complete listing that I illustrated with pictures gathered over the years. Christian even did the quality control
of the first version of the site!
The website was hosted on the MCCH site.
By the end of the 2000s years, the site was moved under the www.vintagebritishdiecasts.co.uk umbrella, where it remains until mid 2021.
2023: A NEW BEGINNING
A complete makeover of the website was long overdue. A thorough review of each box variation for Regular Wheels, Major Packs, Accessory Packs, Kings Size and early Superfast Wheels was done, adding new
variations as well as some clarifications on existing ones. This is the new version you are now browsing!
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© All rights reserved. Vintage Lesney Online 2002-2021
SITE LAST UPDATED ON: 2023-07-16
